Leucanthemum plant named ‘Real Sunbeam’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Leucanthemum  plant named ‘Real Sunbeam’ that is distinguishable by tight clumping basal branching and upright plant habit, non-fading yellow flowers held on very strong flower stems and whose ray florets are arranged in two to three rows, and a large disc comprised of dense arrangement of deep golden disc florets is disclosed.

Genus and species: Leucanthemum×superbum.

Variety denomination: ‘Real Sunbeam’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(f)to the application for European Community Plant Variety Rights which wasfiled for the instant plant variety on Jan. 13, 2015, File Number2015/0086.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLeucanthemum commonly known as Shasta daisy, which is grown as anornamental plant for use in the garden and landscape. The new cultivaris known botanically as Leucanthemum×superbum and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Real Sunbeam’.

Leucanthemum is a genus within the family Asteraceae in which thecommonly referred to “flower” is botanically the inflorescence which iscomprised of outer showy ray florets surrounding smaller disc florets.

‘Real Sunbeam’ arose and was selected from an ongoing breeding programwhich is conducted by the inventors at the inventors' nursery in WestSussex, United Kingdom. The breeding program commenced in 2006 with theaim of developing new and improved commercial varieties of Leucanthemum.‘Real Sunbeam’ is a seedling selection that resulted from the controlledpollination in 2011 of a single plant of the inventors' proprietaryLeucanthemum seedling code ‘L1025-6’ (unreleased and unpatented) as thefemale parent, using pollen from a single plant of the inventors'proprietary Leucanthemum seedling code ‘L1045-5’ (unreleased andunpatented) as the male parent. The inventors selected ‘Real Sunbeam’ in2012 based on the criteria of tight clumping basal branching and uprighthabit, non-fading yellow inflorescences held on very strong flowerstems, ray florets typically arranged in two to three rows, and a largedisc comprised of dense arrangement of deep golden disc florets.

‘Real Sunbeam’ was first asexually propagated by the inventors in WestSussex, United Kingdom in 2012 using the method of vegetative divisionand subsequently by basal shoot cuttings. Since that time under carefulobservation ‘Real Sunbeam’ has been determined uniform, stable and trueto type in subsequent generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘Real Sunbeam’. In combination thesetraits set ‘Real Sunbeam’ apart from all other existing varieties ofLeucanthemum known to the inventor. ‘Real Sunbeam’ has not been testedunder all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observedwith variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions,however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Real Sunbeam’ exhibits tight clumping basal-branching and        upright plant habit.    -   2. The foliage of ‘Real Sunbeam’ is dark green in color.    -   3. A fully expanded inflorescence of ‘Real Sunbeam’ is 7 cm in        diameter and is comprised of ray florets arranged around a        central disc.    -   4. The ray florets of ‘Real Sunbeam’ are and remain yellow in        color.    -   5. The ray florets of ‘Real Sunbeam’ are arranged in two to        three rows.    -   6. The disc florets of ‘Real Sunbeam’ are densely packed and        deep gold in color.    -   7. The inflorescences of ‘Real Sunbeam’ are carried on a very        strong stiff stems.    -   8. Flowering of ‘Real Sunbeam’ commences in June and continues        until October.    -   9. After one year of growth in a 2 gallon container, or planted        in the ground, a plant of ‘Real Sunbeam’ is 50 cm in height and        40 cm in width.    -   10. ‘Real Sunbeam’ is hardy in USDA Zone 5 (−20° F. or −28° C.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs were taken in July 2013 at theinventors' nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom. The photographsillustrate the overall appearance of ‘Real Sunbeam’ showing the color offoliage and inflorescence as true as is reasonably possible to obtain incolor reproductions of this type. The illustrated plants have been grownin 3 liter container outdoors, without any pruning or use of chemicalgrowth regulators. The colors in the photographs may differ from colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description, which accuratelydescribe the actual color of ‘Real Sunbeam’.

FIG. 1 illustrates an 18-month-old plant of ‘Real Sunbeam’ (from initialcuttings) which is growing outdoors in a 3 liter container.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘Real Sunbeam’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new cultivar‘Real Sunbeam’. Observations, measurements, values and comparisons werecollected in Santa Barbara, Calif. during September 2015, from a12-month-old plant growing outdoors in the garden border. Colordeterminations are made in accordance with The 2007 Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart from London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae (formerly Compositae).        -   Genus.—Leucanthemum.        -   Species.—×superbum.        -   Denomination.—‘Real Sunbeam’.        -   Common name.—Shasta daisy.        -   Habit.—Vigorous basal-branching upright growth habit.        -   Commercial category.—Perennial.        -   Use.—For garden and landscape.        -   Suggested commercial container size.—4-inch, 1 gallon, 2            gallon containers.        -   Parentage.—Leucanthemum×superbum ‘Real Sunbeam’ is a            seedling selection resulting from the controlled            cross-pollination of the following parents: Male parent:            Inventors' proprietary Leucanthemum seedling code ‘L1045-5’.            Female parent: Inventors' proprietary Leucanthemum seedling            code ‘L1025-6’.        -   Propagation method.—Basal shoot cuttings and division.        -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Time to develop roots (range).—14 to 20 days are needed for            an initial cutting to develop roots.        -   Temperature to develop roots (range).—The recommended air            temperature is 20° C. to 21° C.        -   Crop time (range).—7 to 8 months to produce a flowering            plant in a 1 gallon container starting from a rooted            cutting.        -   Plant dimensions (one year).—50 cm in height and 40 cm in            width.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun and rich, moist            moderately fertile well-draining soil.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching.—Basal.        -   Color.—145A.        -   Dimensions.—Length, 15.0 cm; diameter (close to soil            surface), 1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Surface.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type (division).—Simple.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Internode length (range).—2.5 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Margin.—Irregularly dentate; teeth spaced at approximately 5            mm intervals, depth 1.5 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf color (both surfaces).—137D.        -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Leaf dimensions (lower, oldest, leaves).—12.0 cm in length,            1.5 to 2.2 cm in width.        -   Leaf dimensions (upper, newest, leaves).—5.0 cm in length,            0.8 cm in width.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (both surfaces).—146C.        -   Leaf surface (both surfaces).—Glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Capitulum, consisting of ray florets and            disc florets.        -   Inflorescence quantity (average).—30 (including colored            buds).        -   Inflorescence diameter (fully opened).—7 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—4.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence aspect.—Radiate. Ray florets horizontal to            slightly recurved.        -   Inflorescence color.—Ray floret color: 8B when first fully            open, 8C immediately prior to senescence. Central disc            color: Darker than 17A, more golden than 22A.        -   Fragrance.—Musty, characteristic of wild oxeye daisy.        -   Blooming season.—June to October.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence (range).—10 to 14 days on the            plant; ray florets are persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Bud dimensions.—0.75 cm in height and 1.25 cm in diameter.        -   Bud shape.—Flattened sphere.        -   Bud color.—147B.        -   Bud surface.—Glabrous.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Peduncle length.—16.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—4.0 mm to 6.0 mm.        -   Peduncle surface.—Furrowed with sparse fine hairs, color            196C.        -   Peduncle strength.—Very strong and stiff.        -   Peduncle color.—144A.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Ray floret arrangement.—Whorled, consisting of 2 to 3 whorls            of broad strap-like yellow ray florets.        -   Shape.—Quilled; corolla tube subtends single ligule or            petal.        -   Quantity.—35 to 45 per inflorescence.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright as bud opens, becoming horizontal,            ageing to slight reflex, no greater than 30 degrees below            the horizontal.        -   Corolla tube dimensions.—3 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter.        -   Corolla tube color.—144C.-   Ray floret petals:    -   -   Shape.—Strap-like, longitudinally furrowed forming three            petal lobes.        -   Surface (abaxial).—Glabrous.        -   Surface (adaxial).—Pubescent.        -   Apex.—Emarginate (3-lobed).        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Dimensions (when ray floret is horizontal).—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm            in length and 5 mm to 9 mm in width.        -   Color (both surfaces).—8A as ray floret opens becoming 8B            when ray floret is first fully open and 8C immediately prior            to senescence.-   Involucral bracts:    -   -   Quantity (average).—40 per inflorescence, overlapping.        -   Bract color (abaxial and adaxial surfaces).—147B.        -   Bract length.—9 mm to 11 mm.        -   Bract width.—3.0 mm.        -   Bract apex.—Rounded.        -   Bract base (range).—Rounded to truncate.        -   Bract surface (both surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Bract shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Bract margin.—Ciliate, fine hairs, color 175A.-   Disc floret:    -   -   Disc diameter.—2.6 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Disc floret quantity (average).—Approximately 400 per            inflorescence, massed at center of receptacle.        -   Disc floret color.—Darker than 17A, more golden than 22A.        -   Disc floret dimensions.—9 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter.        -   Disc floret shape.—Tubular.        -   Disc floret petal quantity.—Ranges from 3 to 5 in number,            basally fused.        -   Disc floret petal dimensions.—3.5 mm in length, 0.75 mm to            1.0 mm in width.        -   Disc floret petal color.—Darker than 17A, more golden than            22A.        -   Disc floret petal apex.—Acute.        -   Disc floret petal base.—Truncate.        -   Disc floret corolla tube.—3.5 mm in length, 0.75 mm in            diameter, color 145B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Ray flowers.—Androecium (stamens, anthers, filaments,            pollen): Absent. Pistil: One, 5 mm in length. Stigma: 1 mm            in length, appears bifid, color light brown. Ovary:            Superior, globose, less than 1 mm in diameter, color 144D.        -   Disc flowers.—General: Stigma, style, and ovary not            observed. Stamens: 5 probably fused appearing as one, length            1 mm, color 175A. Pollen: Low amount; Color yellow-orange,            close to 15A. Pistil: One, less than 1 mm in length, stigma,            style, ovary not observed.-   Seed: None observed to date.-   Pest or disease resistance and susceptibility: No specific disease    or pest resistance or susceptibility has been observed or is known    to the inventor.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

Both of the parents of ‘Real Sunbeam’ bear cream-yellow flowers whichfade to off-white with age, whereas the flowers (ray florets) of ‘RealSunbeam’ are color fast and remain yellow in color. In addition, the rayflorets of both of parents are arranged in a single row, whereas the rayflorets of ‘Real Sunbeam’ are arranged in two to three rows.

The variety of Leucanthemum which the inventors consider to most closelyresemble ‘Real Sunbeam’ is Leucanthemum Plant Named ‘Leumayel’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 19,242). The inventors have observed that ‘Leumayel’ is avigorous variety with large cream-yellow single flowers at least 10 cmin diameter, whereas ‘Real Sunbeam’ is compact and tightly clumping andbears smaller flowers which are 7 cm in diameter. In addition, theflowers of ‘Leumayel’ are pale cream in color when mature, whereas themature flowers of ‘Real Sunbeam’ remain yellow in color.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Leucanthemum plant named‘Real Sunbeam’ as described and illustrated herein.